Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[perspectives]

Hi,

When I read Lou Reed's Vanishing Act, I was kind of puzzled by the preposition below:

It must be nice to disappear
Float into a mist
With a young lady on your arm
Looking for a kiss

a young lady on your arm? Could it mean like a young lady's image tatooed on 'your' arm? Or, a young lady in 'your' arm? Also, is 'looking for a kiss' used to modify a young lady? if not, who is looking for a kiss?

Thank you very much for your help!

[redset]

On your arm refers to the way couples often walk together - technically it's when one person holds onto your upper arm (so they're on your arm) but it's used to talk about someone accompanying you (in a romantic or couple sense), and it can be a metaphor for your partner - someone who accompanies you through life.

Since this is poetry, it could well mean a tattoo of a woman! The name of a person on your arm signifies they're important to you, but I'd assume in this case it simply means being with a woman who loves you (or who likes you at least!). As far as the kiss goes, it's not clear who's looking for a kiss from whom, but I think it fits the theme of the poem if it's the young lady wanting a kiss from you. It would be nice to disappear from the public eye, just you and a young lady who desires you...

[perspectives]

Once again, thank you very much, redset. You often help me out with puzzling English questions! I really appreciate that. Thank you.